Lionel Messi to get MLS protection by referees after David Beckham anger

Officials who are chosen to referee matches involving Lionel Messi will need to be chosen carefully by the MLS, according to the league's top whistle man. Otherwise, the former Barcelona legend could be targetted by other players, just like David Beckham was.

Messi is expected to complete his move to Inter Miami this month ahead of an anticipated debut against Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup on July 22. When he arrives, he will quickly become the highest-paid player in MLS history by some distance and the fact that he turned down a reported £78.3m offer to play in Saudi Arabia, preferring a move to the States is not likely to cut him much slack with his tough-tackling opponents.

The ugly incident has been recalled by the match referee Baldomero Toledo, who has drawn a parallel between that situation and ones that Messi might face when his Inter Miami career gets underway.

PRO’s senior director of match officials, Alan Kelly, told The Athletic: “MLS don’t involve themselves in decision-making, or assignments, or any of that. We have a really good relationship with the competition department because we have to work together on a daily basis. It’s very collaborative from that point of view — but never where it’s impactful on decisions. If it ever reached a point where there was any undue interference, it would be stamped out immediately.”